Folding crate.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

G. F. GREEN. FOLDING (IRATE. APPLIOATION FILED ums, 1905.

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No. 820,300. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906. G. F. GREEN.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1905.

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GEORGE F. GREEN, OF BAZETTE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH PITTS ELLETT, OF FORT WVORTH, TEXAS.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed August 28,1905. Serial No. 276,134.

To all whom, it Wm concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bazette, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I' do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in folding crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate or box which when not in use may be knocked down or folded into a compact and comparatively small space to facilitate the packing and shipping of the same. A further object is to provide means for disposing of the cover or top of the crate when the same is in open position for use, thus preventing the displacement or loosening of the cover or top.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate, showing the same set up for shipment and showing in dotted lines the disposition of the top or cover of the crate when the latter is open and in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the crate, showing the same in folded position. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the crate as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, and Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the crate when set up in position for use and taken immediately above the side and end supporting devices.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the crate, which consists of a bottom piece 2, to which is secured upwardlyprojecting side flanges 3 and end flanges 4. To the side flanges 3 are hingedly connected the sides 5 of the crate. To the end flanges 4 are pivotally connected the end pieces 6 of the crate. The hinged connection between the sides and end of the crate and the flanges on the bottom of the same is formed by means of metallic straps 7, which are secured to the sides and ends of the crates and also to the side and end flanges on the bottom of the same, said straps at the adjacent edges of the sides and ends of the crate and the side and end flanges of the bottom piece being bent to form loops through which are passed rods or wires 8, by means of which said sides and ends of the crate are hingedly connected to the bottom of the latter.

Adapted to be arranged in the crate is a partition 9, said partition being provided on its lower edge with projecting pins or studs 10, which are adapted to be engaged with recesses 12 formed in the bottom of the crate and by means of which the lower portion of the partition 9 is removably supported or held in place on said bottom piece. Pivotally connected to the side of the partitionpieces are bail-shaped rods 13, the looped or bailshaped portions of which are adapted to project through slots or apertures 14 formed in the side pieces 5 of the crate when the same is in a set-up position. In order to retain said sides of the crate in a set-up position, suitable locking devices are provided to engage the bail-shaped rods 13. These locking devices consist of rods 15, which are adapted to be inserted through the projecting loops of the bail-shaped rods 13 outside of the sides of the crate. The lower ends of said locking-rods 13 are adapted to engage loops or staples 16, secured to the side flanges of the bottom, the upper ends of said rods being bent upon themselves to form hooks which engage the upper edges of the sides of the crate and project into the latter, as shown.

The crate is provided with a top or cover piece 17, in the ends of which are formed a series of notches 18, which when the cover is arranged on the top of the crate, are adapted to engage upwardly-projecting eyes or loops 19, secured to the upper edges of the end pieces 6 of the crate. The eyes or loops 19 are adapted to project slightly above the top of the piece 17, and through said projecting eyes are adap ted to be inserted locking-rods 20. Said rods are provided midway their ends with right-angularly-projecting arms 21, which after the opposite ends of the rod have been engaged with the loops or eyes 19 are adapted to be turned downwardly or swung into engage- "ment with centrally-disposed notches 22,

ings, are adapted to be engaged by hooks 24,

which are connected to one of the side pieces of the crate, as shown, and by means of which the crate is securely held in a folded position. When the crate is in an open position for the vending of the goods contained therein, it is desirable that certain provision be made for receiving the cover or top of the crate to prevent misplacement or breaking of said top. The protection of said cover is afforded by placing the same beneath the crate, in which position it is secured by means of hooks 25, which are pivotally connected to the end flanges of the bottom piece and are adapted to engage the eyes or loops 23 on the. inner side of said cover-piece.

A crate constructed as herein shown and described is particularly adapted for ship ping eggs and when so used is provided with the usual fillers. It is obvious, however, that the crate may be used for shipping any merchandise. By connecting the sides and top of the crate as herein shown and described ventilating-apertures are provided which will admit of a circulation of air to the crate.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In a crate of the character described, the combination, with a bottom, having upwardly-projecting side and end flanges, of apertured side pieces hinged to said side flanges, end pieces hinged to the end flanges, a partition removably secured in said crate, bailshaped fastening devices pivotally connected to said end and partition pieces, said de vices being adapted to project through the apertures in said side pieces, locking-rods adapted to be inserted through the projecting ends of said bail-shaped fastening devices, the upper ends of said rods having hookshaped ends to engage the upper edge of said side pieces, guide loops or staples arranged on the side flanges of the bottom to receive the lower ends of said locking-rods, a top piece having recessed ends, fastening-loops arranged in said end pieces to engage the recesses in the ends of said top piece, lockingrods to engage the projecting ends of said fastening-loops, said rods having a right-angularly-projecting arm adapted to engage a notch in the ends of said top piece to hold said rod in place, substantially as described.

2. In aerate of the character described, the

combination, with a bottom, having upwardly-projecting side and end flanges, of apertured side pieces 1, hinged to said side flanges, end pieces hinged to the end flanges, a removable partition secured in said crate, bail-shaped fastening devices pivotally connected to said end and partition pieces, said devices projecting through the apertures in said side pieces, locking-rods inserted through the projecting ends of said bail-shaped fastening devices, the upper ends of said rods hooking over said side pieces, guide-loops arranged on the side flanges of the bottom to receive the lower ends of said locking-rods, a

top piece having recessed ends, fastening devices arranged on said end pieces to engage said notched ends, locking-rods to engage said fastening devices, eyes secured to the ends of said top piece, hooks secured to one of said side pieces to engage said eyes when the crate is in folded position, and hooks arranged on the flanges of said end. pieces to engage the eyes in said to piece to hold the same on the bottom of the crate when the latter is in open position for use, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. GREEN. Witnesses:

W. W. OoNLrN, R. P. WESTBROOK. 

